Improvement in toy building-blocks



G. H. CHINNUCK. Toy Building Blocks.

Flt 1.1681229..-

Patented Sept. 28, 18 75.

WrfN E5555 GEORGE H. OHINNOOK, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN TOY BUILDING-BLOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 168,229, dated September 28, 1875; application filed ,1 l March 6, 1875.

letters of the alphabet, and various pictures or designs illustrating the use of the same. Such letters, pictures, or designs have generally been formed upon paper, cloth, or muslin, or other similar materinhand attached to the faces of the blocks by suitable cement, such as paste, glue, &c. As thus constructed, the edges of the fabric upon which the design is printed are exposed, leaving the same in a condition to be readily injured by abrasion with surrounding objects, and liable to work loose from the faces to which they are attached. The

sheets of fabric, when the edges are thus lifted or rubbed up from the faces, materially injure the appearance of the block by accumulating dirt, and rapidly wearing away, and are liable to be stripped entirely off by the least I rough usage, materially lessening the durability of the same.

. My invention is designed to obviate these defects; and consistsin constructing the blocks in such manner that the edges of the paper, when attached to the faces, will be below the surface of the same, and protected from contact with surrounding objects. This is accomplished by forming a series of shoulders at two or more of the edges on the faces of the block to which the fabric bearing the designs is attached, which will rise above and protect the edges of the same; or, by forming a series of grooves at or near the edges of said faces, into which the edges of the fabric may be pushed and secured, as will be-fully hereinafter set forth. 7

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of one modification of my improved block; Fig. 2, a sectional vview of the same, and Fig. 3 a view showing the blocks in the process of construction. Fig. 4 represents ordinary manner.

a perspective view of another modification of my improved block; and Fig. 5 asectional view of the same.

' The letters A A A represent the faces of the blocks. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, two of said faces are plain, the remaining four being provided with shoulders at a at two edges of the same. Said shoulders may be formed in any convenient manner after the blocks are made that is to say, by attaching strips along the edges of the-blocksor so cutting the wood as to leave them along. the edges of the block when finished. This last-mentioned method will be found most convenient and practicable, and is the one generally followed in the manufacture of the improved blocks. In constructing the blocks by this method the wood or timber is first cut or sawed into rectangular strips of proper size, which are afterward grooved longitudinally upon their four faces, by means of a plane or special machinery adapted to the purpose, so as to leave on each face two longitudinal beads or shoulders, or. a, after which the strips are sawed or cut into blocks of proper size, leaving each block with two plain faces and four grooved or beaded faces, as shown in Fig. 1. The blocks are then sized or otherwise prepared for the reception of the letters and designs. The letters are painted upon the plain faces, which are afterward varnished and provided with a hard enameled surface by baking the blocks. Thepictures or designs are formed upon paper, muslin, or other fabric, and attached to the beaded faces between the beads or shoulders on the same by means of any adhesive cement, and varnished or finished in the Each block, as thus constructed,'will have two plain faces, with hard, durable surfaces, capable of repelling dirt and resisting abrasion, While the more delicate surfaces of the pictures or designs will be protected from contact with surrounding objects by means of the beads or shoulders which protect the edges of the fabric, and prevent the same from being lifted up and stripped off, producing a much more durable block than those in ordinary use at no additional expense, as the letters of the alphabet, which occupy the plain faces, are simple, and easily formed by painting, while the more intricate pictures and designs upon fabric are attached to the block as -'rn1\T'r en usual, and at the same time are thoroughly protected.

It is evident that the beads or shoulders may be formed upon all of the faces, if desired and, instead of being formed at two edges of each face, they may be formed at each of the four edges, should it be desired to form the letters as Well as the designs upon fabric to be attached to the block.

In the modification shownin Figs. 4 and 5 p the faces A A A are each provided with four Having thus described my invention, I clairn 4 1. A cubical or other shaped block, provided with grooves a on one or more of its faces, in combination with the ornanienting paper or material, the edges of which are turned down into and confined by the grooves, substantial- 1y as described.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a toy block, constructed of a cubical piece of wood or other material, having two lettered faces opposite each other, and having its four remaining sides or faces provided with a continuous sink or depression, in which the ornamenting material is secured, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the have hereunto set my hand.

H. OHINNOOK.

foregoing I Witnesses:

J AS. H. MATTHAEI, THOS. J. FARRELL. 

